The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-19

there is n fine air for Ruy Blas-a beautiful
lyric lament for the dream that is past.
The final scene Is where Ruy Bias dies in
tho arms OF the Queen, after having killed
Don Sallust. Mis- Abbott has been highly
successful in the part Of Marie Theresa,
Queen Of Spain, and will be supported by
her entire and excellent company in this
new production.
Holiday TheatrieaIs in New York.
Special Correspondents Of the Appeal.
NEW York, Dec. 1A-Ncw York has
more than is wonted holiday activity this
year, and all day long now the streets are
filed with people hurrying and scurrying
as il Christmas were a week earlier than it
is. Mays window is filed with a panor-
annie view Of some Of the principal events
in the early history Of this country, and
the celebrated corner Of Fourteenth street
and Sixthayennyua" slammed and packed
with an eager and interested crowd from
early morn till midnight enjoying the free
show. All along Fourteenth street tenn
porary booths are up, and vendors OF
small Ia penny articles line the CURLING.
A stroll through this busy t~horoughfarc
late in the afternoon Is full OF interest.
What with the bright lights from the
shop interiors, the Pickering lamps or
lanterns OF the booths, the surging mass Of
people, the rattle Of the elevated and the
thousand noises about this center, onc Is
fairly bewildered. The same picture,
much toned down in color, is repeated ON
Broadway, but there the voice OF the
huckster is unknown and the crowd is not
motley.
Many Of the finer shops arc open ill
late In the evening. their artistic displays
drawing goodly numbers OF purchascrs and
connOisseurs, who come 10 enjoy the
pleasure Of looking. Never have such
tasteful, tempting aud altogether beautiful
things been offered To buyetS, and il is
safe to say that this year will surpass all
former ones In the matter Of extniyagant
present giving. Tho Christmas card has
had its day here and now II Is supplantcd
by morc substantial and costly offerings,
however small they be.
At the theatcrs there IL much 10 sec and
enjoy. The two premicres Of the past
week we're an opcra-boufic, by Lccocl, nj
the Casino, AMI elaine" the beautifully
pathetic poem by Tennyson, at tho Madi-
son Square. Elaine" has been arranged
for the stage by George parsons Lathrop
anu iihFIg IlNdru,s anu nhH pfoNtn n uc-
cided success. To be brought back 10 the
days Of King. Arthur and to
hear the pathetic story Of Elaiue's
the Impressive surroundings Of As
tolat il 10 playgoen a relief from
the commonplace, conventual drama Of
today with which We are being suricited.
The principal roles are In tho hands Of
young Alexander Salyini, who acts Ian
cclot, and Annie Russell, who IL the
Elaine. Marie Burroughs looks and poses
prcttily ~ the iaithlcss Guincvcre, and n
Miss Seligman. a debutante, docs fairly
with the small part Of Ilanyd. Fockton,
In the rolo of the dumb s%crvitor, or, as
Torn Topic calls Il, "the dumb waiter"
was excellent, n were also Messrs. Ram
say and Massen as the hcroinc's two
brothers. salvini, though q trhlc too dm-
matte and noisy for 30 small a stage, acted
with rare force and intelligence, often re-
minding one, In the exquisite modnlation
OF his voice, OF his illustrious father.
Annie Russell was tender and loving ~
Elaine, and imbued the part with such n
depth of pathos that the audience was
much moved. She won a perfect ovation
OF applause, particularly from the
ladies'. Her one defect In n
slight monotony of tone, but this
Is not Of sufficient Importance b. mar the
beauty Of her acting. The most effective
scene IL Elaine's avowal Of her great, all
absorbing love 10 Lancelot and his forced
rejection oi II. In this, both Salyini aud
Miss Russell wcre nj their hest, aud sue
ccclcd admirably In making this scene
the memorable one Of the play. After the
close IL the fourth net Elaine N seen on
her funeral barge. this tablcau being a 10
production of Toby R~oscntha's celebrated
painting. The picture hero Is touchingly
beautiful Ia iis effect.
To paS from grave 20 gay, the opera
bOufie at the Casino. "Madclon' by name,
l. tuncful and pretty. but Is sadly IN need
Of a good comedy part and, besides, the
Casino Just % Is without a good come
dian, hence We have opera boufic without
much laugh TO H. There are pretty girls
In abundance. aud thcr are pretty
scant costumes, hut there must b. some
thing funny, and that Is lacking In Made
Ion" Therefore u may not be a success.
Al the opera they aro offering the public
an antido,e for an overdose OF Wagner,
aud the public SEEMS 10 take Us new mcdi-
cine with . plish, for "fausl'' and ia
Iuiyc" arc filling the house az each per
fomancc, and whether Il Is the lighter
music or ballet, no n can tell, but busi-
ncs has improved AZ the Metropolitan,
aud that's what most interests the man
ayers. Two novelties are promised, Web
cr's "Furyanthc" for the near future, and
for the lint week In January wagncr's
"GOcitcr1anmcrung." Hoffman continues
the pct and the fashion, and people arc
turned away At every concert lie viii
astound ms next week with his perform.
ancc Of the well worn "Rhapsody. No. 2
OF List. W.. v. X.